Chi. Fed loses retaliation case

A jury last week determined that the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago retaliated against an African-American employee for filing a 1999 complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging that he was denied promotions, salary raises and training opportunities on racial grounds.

Morris Reeves, 54, a senior bank examiner from 1993 until he resigned in 2000, was awarded $399,000 after a two-week trial in federal court here, according to his attorney, Susan Bogart. Mr. Reeves alleged the bank retaliated for the EEOC complaint by giving him a lower pay raise than he deserved and denying him a promotion.

A spokesman for the bank pointed out there was no finding of discrimination against Mr. Reeves, adding, "We disagree with the verdict on the retaliation and the amount of the award." A decision on whether to appeal has not been made, he added.